Ted McGinn named managing partner at Lavelle Law

Kerry Lavelle, founding partner of Lavelle Law, has announced that Ted McGinn has been named as managing partner of the firm, effective Jan. 1, 2017. The appointment marks the first time in the 25-year history of the firm that someone other than Lavelle will be heading the practice.

McGinn, 47, who joined the firm in 1997, was elevated to partner status in 2010. He was the fourth attorney hired in what is currently a 25-attorney firm. McGinn holds a degree in accounting from the University of Iowa and received his J.D. from Loyola University Chicago School of Law.

"Since our firm was founded 25 years ago, the cornerstone of the Lavelle Law brand has been a commitment to client satisfaction, yet we have also maintained a unique passion for community service," McGinn said. "As we look to the future, we want our clients and the various organizations we serve to be assured that there will be no reduction in those commitments."

Lavelle will remain deeply involved in the firm, focusing his attention on client work.

"I will work with many of our key clients and provide input and guidance to Ted and the other partners," Lavelle said. "This transition will provide clients with heightened access to me and I look forward to returning to handling a full case load again."

In the past year, Lavelle published his first book, "The Business Guide to Law: Creating and Operating a Successful Law Firm" and has become more active in speaking on law practice management within the Illinois and American Bar Associations.

McGinn anticipates the firm continuing on its path of measured growth as a top priority. "Over the past decade, Lavelle Law embarked upon an aggressive expansion of our personnel from four lawyers, to its current number of 25. We have been evaluating our strengths and anticipate continued growth in certain practice areas."

McGinn noted that the firm initially grew based on its taxation practice along with service in business formation, bankruptcy, and both commercial and residential real estate.

"Today we have an outstanding reputation in estate planning, and have seen growth in new areas such as securities and banking law, and are launching an immigration law practice group this month," McGinn said.

McGinn notes that the firm has experienced double-digit annual revenue growth for more than a dozen consecutive years and he anticipates no slowdown in that metric. "As long as we provide exceptional legal work and treat our clients with respect. I believe we have room for continued growth."

Another challenge on the horizon will be moving the firm to a new location. "In 2003, we made the extraordinary move from the Chicago Loop to a headquarters in the suburbs, buying and re-working our building in Palatine," McGinn said. "Even by maintaining and expanding our presence in the Loop, we have outgrown our Palatine building and have just signed a lease to move to a larger suburban location in 2017."

"Like most professions, the legal industry has evolved in recent years," Lavelle said pointing to areas such as marketing and technology as those with the most extensive changes. "From increased efficiency through the use of technology in the office, to using and understanding things like social media in our marketing, there are many ways in which running a law firm has changed. Our attorneys and staff have done a great job in understanding new business trends without ever deviating from the goal of providing great legal services."

McGinn thanked Lavelle and the other members of the firm for providing support in the transition. "Our success has been based on a very formulaic approach to training new employees over the years, and Kerry has been an outstanding mentor in preparing me for this role. The other members of the firm have been very supportive and are prepared to move us successfully into the next phase of our history."

Lavelle looks forward to his transition as well. "It has been an exhilarating and fulfilling run but it's time for me to focus my energies on practicing law for our clients, and to take a greater role in speaking and writing about matters of law, particularly law office management, which is a passion of mine. As such, it's only fair that the firm have the full attention of a managing partner who can be fully focused on directing the resources needed to provide excellent legal services to our clients. Ted is the right person for that job."

Lavelle Law, Ltd. is located in Palatine with an additional office serving clients in the Chicago Loop. The firm was founded in 1989 as a single attorney practice with an emphasis on tax law. The firm has added more than a dozen practice groups including estate planning, business law, banking law, litigation, criminal, immigration, divorce and family law, commercial and residential real estate, and law practice management. The firm has received numerous awards and commendations for their business success, their commitment to ethics, national recognition for their pro bono services, and multiple acknowledgements of the charitable work they do in the local communities. For more information, visit www.lavellelaw.com or follow Lavelle Law on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.